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Why start your legal career with us?
Our people are what sets us apart from the rest. We are committed to nurture and grow all our employees so we can continue to be known for our exceptional knowledge and service and ensure our staff enjoy happy and fulfilling careers.
The culture at Brachers enables those who are starting out in their careers to immerse themselves in their teams and have the chance to work alongside and learn from more senior members and partners. We provide encouragement and opportunities for networking with colleagues and others within the industry to help grow and build lasting connections.
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We’re really proud to have supported a number of staff through their entire career – including our Managing Partner, Joanna Worby, who started as a trainee with Brachers and has been with us now for over 30 years!
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“My role from trainee to partner at Brachers has been very rewarding. I now enjoy supporting and mentoring the new trainees joining our team”
Matt Simmonds, Partner (Corporate and Commercial)
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You can hear more about the journey from trainee to partner at Brachers,
from our Corporate Partner, Matthew Simmonds.
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We are now accepting applications for trainees commencing September 2027. The recruitment window is open until midnight on 31 May 2026.
We welcome applications from all candidates wishing to qualify as a Solicitor in England and Wales, regardless of whether you are following the traditional training contract or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route.
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Our Graduate Trainee programme
We want our graduate trainees to develop into our partners of the future and we are very proud that the majority of our trainees stay with the firm upon qualification. To ensure our trainees are given the best opportunities to develop the skills they need to become a successful lawyer, we have created the Graduate Trainee Programme, in partnership with our training provider.
Throughout the programme, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your drive, enthusiasm and ambition as well as learning the business knowledge, technical and interpersonal skills, and mindset you need to establish a stimulating and rewarding legal career. For those trainees following the newly introduced SQE programme, you’ll receive specific support that gives you optimum preparation to pass the new SQE assessments.
What you can expect from your training
Our training programme is designed to be interesting, challenging and rewarding. You’ll work with great lawyers on exciting projects, with the opportunity to experience a broad range of legal disciplines to help you make an informed decision about which area to specialise in.
What if I have completed the LPC?
You will join our Trainee Solicitor Programme which offers four six-month seats, 24 months in total. This may be reduced if you have previous eligible work experience.
What if I have a degree?
We require you to have a law degree or, for those who have a non-law degree, you must also have completed a conversion course, such as the GDL or PGDL. You will join as a graduate apprentice and the period of training will cover 4 seats over 30 months.
At the beginning of your training, you’ll be able to let us know in which areas you would like to gain experience. This will form part of your regular supervision sessions, as we understand your priorities may change as your interests develop. We currently offer seats in dispute resolution, corporate and commercial, employment, family, wills trust and probate, commercial property and personal injury.
You will be supervised by a senior associate or a partner who is committed to supporting your personal and professional development. They will provide you with regular feedback throughout your seat and extensive on-the-job support. We also have a training principle who will be able to provide advice and guidance on how to get the best out of your training programme and a dedicated member of our HR team who will meet with you regularly.
All trainees are encouraged to make the most of the opportunities we have for pro-bono work, such as working with Citizens Advice and getting involved with the charities that we support.
How to apply
Our recruitment process consists of a first and second stage interview. During your interviews, we’ll tell you more about our culture at Brachers and what it’s like to work here. We’ll also want to find out a bit more about you, your ambition and why you’d like to join our firm.
To be considered for our Graduate Trainee Programme, please complete our application form.
The deadline for applications is midnight on the 31 May 2026. Applications after this time will not be considered.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing the support and resources required for you to perform at your best. Please inform us if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made (in accordance with the Equality Act 2010) at any stage of the recruitment process.
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We appreciate that not everyone has the means to or wants to go to university. However, an apprenticeship can provide an alternative route into your chosen career.
Apprenticeships with Brachers take you straight into the real-world application of legal skills and expertise. We offer a range of options for kick-starting your legal career path, including solicitors (see our graduate trainee section), paralegals and business support service roles.
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Learn, earn, and gain invaluable experience
An apprenticeship allows you to combine work and study, mixing on-the-job training with structured learning through an external training provider. All the while, you earn a salary and enjoy all of our benefits.
Our apprentices learn both academically and vocationally, so you benefit from a combination of knowledge, insight and context that supports your progress. You will apply your learning to everyday legal work, use on-the-job experience to support your studies and ultimately gain qualifications that support your ambitions.
What you can expect from your training
Our training programme is designed to be interesting, challenging and rewarding. You’ll work with great lawyers on exciting projects, with the opportunity to experience a broad range of legal disciplines to help you make an informed decision about which area to specialise in.
What kinds of apprenticeship do we offer?
Whether you’re completely new to the legal profession or looking to gain additional skills and progress in your current role with further qualifications, an apprenticeship could be the perfect way to start and develop your career. We’re continuously developing our apprenticeship opportunities and our current openings are shown in the ‘current vacancies’ section above.
Applicants must be aged 18 or over, so if you have completed A-level qualifications or equivalent, this may be the route for you.
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What can you expect?
You’ll meet with a number of our colleagues, including lawyers and other business professionals, to experience the different areas of law we deal with and the clients we work with, as well as the business functions that keep the firm running smoothly.
Your two week placement will be spent with three different teams, a maximum of three days in each team and a day to experience the business support functions. If there is a specific area of law you are interested in, we will try to place you in the relevant team, however, we want to make this a meaningful experience and so this will depend upon business needs at the time of the placement.
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Eligibility
Our legal work experience placements are available to students in their penultimate or final year of a law degree, final year of non-law studies, or graduates. As Brachers was established in Kent, we are committed to giving back to the local community and therefore, priority is given to candidates with connections to the local area and those who express a keen interest in applying for our Graduate Training Programme, or those who have already applied.
How do I apply?
Please submit your application here.
The closing date for applications is midnight on 31 January each year and shortlisted candidates will be invited to a face to face interview before being offered a placement. Applications received after this time will not be considered.
We aim to support four students with a two week placement each year, as follows:
• Easter Break (two students)
• Summer Holiday (two students)Exact dates will be confirmed once the universities have set their academic term dates and dependent on candidate and team availability.
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Brachers life
We have a long and rich history of helping clients in Kent and supporting numerous charity and community initiatives for over 125 years.
As a firm we continue to grow, and are proud to be leading the way with our innovation and investment in technology.
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Hear from our staff
Colleagues from across the business share a glimpse into their life at Brachers
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Lydia Burchell
Secretary (Litigation)
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Monikar Cheema
Solicitor (Employment)
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Robert Thompson
Partner (Debt Recovery)
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Sharon Hooper
IT Support and Training Manager
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Benefits
Our staff work really hard and we think hard work should be rewarded. We offer a great benefits package to ensure we make your work with Brachers, and your life outside of work, more fulfilling.
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“This is a great place to work. If you are looking for an alternative opportunity to a London firm, but want to maintain the quality of clients and work, you couldn’t do better than joining Brachers”
Alex Cosgrove, Partner (Corporate and Commercial) -
“Friendly staff, supportive and approachable colleagues who share the same vision.”
Sharon Hooper, IT Support and Training Manager
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Building your career
We believe in the potential of our staff and allowing people to shine. With our clear progression routes and a range of support systems, you’ll have all you need to achieve a fulfilling career.
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Legal 500 2025I continue to enjoy the experience of working with Brachers, they never fail to deliver on every task set and always in good time, we do challenge them by giving them short windows to respond simply due to the fast-paced, dynamic environment in which our organisation operates.
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Get in touch